The European Commission has moved to streamline the product scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) as part of a wider simplification package first presented in May 2026.
The two new measures adopted July 13 are part of an effort to provide greater legal certainty for businesses, Member States and partner countries ahead of the Regulation's application.
Targeted changes in product scope
The Delegated Act removes cattle hides, skins and leather, re-treaded tyres, soybeans for sowing, articles of vulcanised rubber, conveyor and transmission belts, and aircraft and motor vehicle seats from the scope of the Regulation while adding soluble coffee, certain palm oil derivatives and frozen cattle tongues.
The changes were made following a period of public and stakeholder feedback.
To allow businesses sufficient time to prepare, the new products added to the scope will become subject to the Regulation from 30 December 2027.
The update of the product scope does not alter the list of commodities covered by the regulation, but rather products derived from those commodities.
The Delegated Act also clarifies that samples and products used for analysis, examination and testing are outside the scope of the Regulation and introduces targeted exemptions for specific categories of products, including waste, used and second-hand products, packing material, and products used in the manufacture of medicinal products.
Data Streamlining
The Commission also adopted the Implementing Act establishing the technical rules for the EUDR Information System.
The updated system introduces operational simplifications requested by Member States and industry, including simplified declarations for micro and small primary operators and updated technical specifications for automated application programming interfaces (APIs).
Additional functionalities will be introduced later this summer.
Background
The EU Deforestation Regulation aims to ensure that products placed on the EU market or exported from it do not contribute to deforestation or forest degradation.
It covers seven commodities associated with deforestation: cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, rubber, soy and wood, as well as a range of derived products. Operators placing these products on the EU market, or exporting them, must demonstrate that they are deforestation-free and produced in accordance with the relevant legislation of the country of production.
Even before entering into application, the Regulation has already encouraged positive changes in public and private sectors, bringing greater transparency to supply chains and opening new market opportunities for deforestation-free products
